RIETI, Italy - Asafa Powell set another world record in the 100 meters, winning a heat at the Rieti Grand Prix in 9.74 seconds. The world’s fastest man improved his record by 0.03 seconds, having run 9.777 three times.

Powell has been working hard since his third-place finish in the 100 meters at the World Championships in Japan. It paid off Sunday.

“I was much more fluid,” said Powell, who had run 9.77 three times. “Zero tension, zero pressure.”

Powell set his latest record in the second of two heats, and even eased up at the end to save something for the final, which he won in 9.78, with no tailwind.

“This means that I can do even 9.68,” the Jamaican said. “I’m worth that time, I know it.”

The record was set with a strong wind at his back, but it was below the maximum allowed by the IAAF to make records valid.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

LSUgains ground on Trojans

NEW YORK — LSU is closing in on Southern California in the AP Top 25, and Appalachian State is getting some recognition — but not a ranking. After a surprisingly easy and thoroughly impressive victory over Virginia Tech, No. 2 LSU took 19 first-place votes from No. 1 USC in the latest poll.

The Trojans were idle Saturday while the Tigers routed the Hokies 48-7 in Death Valley. USC received 40 first-place votes from the media panel, down from 59 last week, and 1,619 points. LSU received 25 first-place votes and 1,582 points.

Oklahoma moved up two spots into third while West Virginia slipped a spot to No. 4 and lost its first-place vote to the Tigers. Defending national champion Florida was No. 5, followed by Texas, Wisconsin, California, Louisville and Ohio State.

Appalachian State, a week after pulling off a stunning upset at Michigan, received 19 points, not nearly enough to be ranked but it got a spot between Auburn (23 points) and Cincinnati (12 points) in the list of others receiving votes.

Vikings fall to 0-2

PORTLAND — Jerry Glanville’s bumpy start with the Portland State Vikings got bumpier with a loss to UC Davis on Saturday.

Tim Plough threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns and the Aggies spoiled Glanville’s home debut, 26-17.

“We can’t blame anybody but ourselves,” Glanville said. “And they deserve the credit.”

After Emmanuel Benjamin’s 39-yard-field goal put the UC Davis ahead 19-17, Plough hit Luke McDonough with a 31-yard touchdown pass, stunning the crowd of 12,022 that had come out to see the new high-profile coach of the Vikings.

Plough completed 18 of 29 passes, and Joe Trombetta ran for 92 yards and another score for the Aggies (1-1)

Portland State (0-2) led by as many as 14 points in the first half.

After Jordan Brown’s early safety, Olaniyi Sobomehin rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 8-0 for Portland State in the first quarter.

Benjamin kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Aggies.

The Vikings got a team safety before Brian White found Kenneth Mackins with a 49-yard scoring pass to make it 17-3 for Portland State.

“I don’t rate losses,” Glanville said, looking dejected. “There’s never been a loss where you can lose and smile. If you do, then you need to do something else for a living.”

The Vikings lost 35-12 by McNeese State in Louisiana last Saturday. Glanville lost quarterback Tygue Howland and fullback Bobby McClintock, a former Marshfield standout, to injuries in that game. Both will require surgery.

Brian White, who transferred from Colorado last season, took over for Howland. He completed 23 of 40 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown. He threw one interception and was sacked nine times.

BASEBALL

Gibbons reportedly received steroids and HGH

NEW YORK — Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons received performance-enhancing steroids and human growth hormone after both substances were banned by baseball, according to an SI.com report.

Gibbons was the latest athlete to be linked to the Florida pharmacy under investigation for illegally distributing prescription medications.

Major League Baseball asked Friday to meet with St. Louis’ Rick Ankiel and Toronto’s Troy Glaus after two reports said they received performance-enhancing drugs from Signature Pharmacy several years ago.

AUTO RACING

Alonso wins Formula One race

MONZA, Italy — Fernando Alonso won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, beating Lewis Hamilton and closing to within three points of his McLaren teammate at the top of the drivers’ standings.

With four races left, Hamilton leads the standings with 92 points, while Alonso has 89. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, who finished third Sunday, is third with 74 points.

Alonso, the two-time defending Formula One champion, won for the fourth time this season. He beat Hamilton by more than six seconds on the 3.6-mile Autodromo Nazionale di Monza course, completing 53 laps in 1 hour, 18 minutes, 37.806 seconds.